News Roundup

Pacific Islands News Roundup – August 29 – September 4, 2025 

Editor’s Note: We are undergoing a web host migration process and may need to make necessary modifications to our format and frequency over the next several weeks. Thank you in advance for your understanding. 

Political Leadership and Regionalism, Peace and Security

  • United Nations’ Guteress commends PNG and Bougainville governments for maintaining peace on Bougainville (The National)
  • Guam joins Asia-Pacific leaders in strengthening regional resilience and cooperation (Kuam News)
  • UN chief to address the PNG parliament today during ‘historic’ visit (RNZ)
  • RSIPV Gizo returns to Solomon Islands to secure PIF Leaders Meeting (SIBC)
  • Marshall Islands to fast-track new parliament (Marianas Business Journal)
  • Refugee advocates decry Australia’s plan to mass deport non-citizens to Nauru (RNZ)
  • NZ pressed Cook Islands for months over China deals, documents reveal (Cook Island News)
  • Hostility rises as New Caledonia peace deal teeters (newsroom)
  • Gov’t misleads on King’s new board; the bill reverses 2010 reforms that barred unchecked royal spending power (Kaniva Tonga)
  • Samoa Votes for Change – Elects New Leader (Talamua Online News)

People-Centered Development

  • Chance to see, learn more about some of 10K returned artifacts at HITA Talk on Saturday (PDN)
  • Local innovation: Raginam herbal medicine secures DDA backing to tackle PNG’s health challenges (NBC)
  • CNMI launches monthlong cultural heritage activities (Marianas Variety)
  • Traditional Voyage Canoes Depart Temotu for Pacific Islands Forum in Honiara (SIBC)
  • Une jeunesse outremer en quête de mieux (Tahiti Infos)
  • $1M grant buoys Hawaiʻi Island health clinic facing federal cuts (HPR)
  • More public awareness on Polio needed (PNG Haus Bung)
  • Vanuatu reports 89 cases of whooping cough in outbreak (RNZ)
  • UH to archive Native Hawaiian social media content as a record of discourse (HPR)
  • Calls to protect Indigenous intellectual property from AI ‘cultural theft’ (ABC News)

Climate Change and Disasters, Ocean and Environment

  • Pandemics, climate shocks, unsafe food interconnected – WHO regional director (RNZ)
  • ACT wants out of Paris Agreement, National says no (RNZ)
  • Fisherman’s call to save the ocean (Island Business)
  • SPREP strengthens partnerships for a resilient Blue Pacific (SPREP)
  • New Kiribati Humanitarian Warehouse strengthens national disaster response capability (Pacific Community)
  • PIF expects to issue first “Ocean of Peace” Declaration amid nuclear and regional concerns (SIBC)
  • The Pacific’s united front on climate action is splintering over deep-sea mining (The Conversation)
  • Millions in Pacific still lack safe water (FBC News)
  • Kimberley traditional owners visit their country after ‘once-in-a-century’ floods (ABC News)

Resources and Economic Development, Technology and Connectivity

  • PM Tagelagi says COLA not an option yet for the govt as the island braces for further cost increases (TV Niue)
  • Trade Minister aims to expand US zero-tariff list for Fijian products (FBC News)
  • Nauru’s unorthodox money-making schemes are a ‘riches to rags to riches’ story (ABC News)
  • New $95M undersea cable project will link the Micronesian islands (HPR)
  • New PCC Science building opens, boosting STEM Opportunities in Palau (Island Times Palau)
  • CNMI leaders meet with ZO Motors in California (Marianas Press)
  • 68% of households report income increase – Bureau of Stats report (Fiji Village)
  • Data Dive: Who Uses The Most Water In Hawaiʻi? (Civil Beat)
  • Immigration Raids Throw Long Shadow Over Big Island Coffee Harvest (Civil Beat)

Latest Content from the Pacific Islands Report

  • Pacific Islands Security In the Era of US-China Competition (Visions & Voices)
  • Abandonment of Soft Power, Neglect of Climate Change, and the Shifting Geopolitical Landscape of the Pacific (Visions & Voices)
  • Tackling Systemic Inequities in The Solomon Islands Healthcare System: The Race-Health-Governance Nexus (Visions & Voices)
  • The Watchdogs of the Blue Pacific: Media Accountability in Regional Security (Visions & Voices)

The Pacific Islands Report (PIR) is a project of the Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP) at the East-West Center and the Center for Pacific Islands Studies (CPIS) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

This non-exhaustive news roundup, featuring open-access information, is organized with the thematic areas of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and its implementation plan.

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